In broadband terms, we’re Latvia.
The number of broadband subscribers, excluding mobile broadband, is 856,375 as of the end of September 2008. If you include mobile broadband the number is 1,125,080. This gives a penetration rate of 19.7% (25.9% including mobile).
In relative terms, Ireland’s current broadband position is behind all countries in the EU with who we are looking to compete with. The Nordic countries stand out as the leaders in both Europe and the world. Denmark has a penetration rate of 36%. Sweden and Finland stand strong above 30%. The quality of broadband in Sweden is quite good with 10% of the population having access to super speed broadband (>10Mbits/s).
The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is being run by the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources with the support of ComReg. The aim of the scheme is to bring broadband to areas of the country without any presence. The tender for this was given to ‘3’. In order to facilitate competition ‘3’ will be required to give wholesale access to anyone wishing to serve premises in the NBS area.
As a result of this tendering the lobby group Ireland Offline have decided to reform. “IrelandOffline is a voluntary group campaigning for affordable, unmetered (flat-rate) and broadband Internet access in Ireland, for anyone who wants it.”
IrelandOffline is not happy with “the national contract being awarded to a 3G mobile company with a history of poor technology and customer service.”
Fair enough.
There technically isn’t a major problem with broadband in Ireland, if we were Latvia, but we’re not. Ireland is looking to position itself as a knowledge economy. The Internet is a modern revolution. It is an information revolution and if Ireland is seeking to be a leader in research, development and technology then we have to do better when it comes to broadband, we have to do much better.
Internet Penetration is a key economic indicator and as the old country expression goes “signs on”. We are currently Latvia, EU members since 2004.
